A LOCAL MP is considering legal action after a metropolitan newspaper reported that she was meddling in local government.
Fairfax media reported that after South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich’s son Paul failed to win the Kingston mayoralty, Ms Peulich intervened on behalf of her son and sought retribution against Liberal-aligned councillors who voted for veteran councillor Ron Brownlees.
Fairfax reported that through email, Ms Peulich slammed Liberal-aligned councillors for putting their local government role ahead of their commitment to the Liberal Party.
This week, a spokesperson for Ms Peulich told the News that Ms Peulich had sought legal advice and was considering legal action. He said one of the emails Fairfax referred to was a fake and the other was tampered with.
A clarification in The Age on Wednesday reported that they received about 50 emails relating to internal Liberal Party matters in Melbourne’s South East. The clarification said that Fairfax had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the emails, with one exception.
It said The Sunday Age reported details of an email believed to have been sent by Ms Peulich which related to last year’s election at Kingston Council and appears to show her lobbying for mayoral votes for her son Paul.
“After publication of the story, Ms Peulich questioned the story, claiming she did not write the emails,” the clarification said.
“ On reviewing the history of the document, neither the source of the email, nor the reporters responsible for the story, were able to confirm its authenticity. Fairfax Media therefore acknowledges that Ms Peulich may not have written or sent that particular email.”
State Government spokesperson Paul Price said the Liberal Party did not stand or fund candidates in local government.
“Inga’s always been a very enthusiastic campaigner. The Liberal Party does not stand candidates in local government; we don’t fund candidates in local government; we never have,” Mr Price said.
“Liberal Party members are free to stand and they do, but they’re under no obligation to do other than what is the right thing by their community, no obligation to caucus.”
